The Piano Teacher 2007 - Articles Page 7

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. (Linda Shelton, Executive Director), will present the long-awaited NYC return of one of the world's most renowned ballet companies, The Joffrey Ballet, performing the New York premiere of its critically acclaimed production of Krzysztof Pastor's majestic Romeo & Juliet at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater from March 29 - April 2.

Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in the World Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis's The Jungle (Symphony No. 4), commissioned by the Philharmonic as the first of The New York Commissions, with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; William Bolcom's Trombone Concerto with Principal Trombone Joseph Alessi as soloist; and Copland's Quiet City, featuring Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin and English horn player Grace Shryock in her Philharmonic solo debut.

A founding resident company of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (COP) will perform music by Rossini and Gounod, premiere a new arrangement by New Jersey composer, Raphael Fusco and present the U.S. premiere of Stories for piano and orchestra by French-Lebanese pianist and rising-star composer Rami Khalife.

THE AYE, a stage show adapted from Ana Isabel Ordonez's internationally acclaim ed book, THE EXTRAORDINARY LOVE STORY OF AYE AYE AND FEDOR, will be performed to celebrate the 85th birthday of Nobel Peace Laureate Monsigneur Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a part of the Sixth Annual Desmond Tutu International Peace Conference in Cape Town on 7 October.

Following the August release of her new CD THIS JOURNEY OF LOVE, featuring a musical tribute to Natalie Cole and Horace Silver, Aziza Miller and special guests are bringing Brooklyn to Broadway! to The Iridium (1650 Broadway & 51st Street, NY 10019) on October 6th at 8 PM.

Aziza Miller will bring 'From Brooklyn to Broadway!' to The Iridium (1650 Broadway & 51st Street, NYC 10019) on Today, October 6th at 8 PM.

Following the August release of her new CD THIS JOURNEY OF LOVE, featuring a musical tribute to Natalie Cole and Horace Silver, Aziza Miller and special guests are bringing Brooklyn to Broadway! to The Iridium (1650 Broadway & 51st Street, NY 10019) on October 6th at 8 PM.

Those Girls, the dynamic vocal harmony group that debuted in New York last spring, returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City for two shows in September.

Aziza Miller will bring 'From Brooklyn to Broadway!' to The Iridium (1650 Broadway & 51st Street, NYC 10019) on Thursday, October 6th at 8 PM.

Vineyard Theatre, one of the nation's leading nonprofit theatre companies has announced today that Executive Producer/CEO Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, who has been a key member of the company's leadership team for almost 20 years, has decided to depart at the end of September 2016 to pursue new career opportunities.

Those Girls, the dynamic vocal harmony group that debuted in New York last spring, returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City for two shows in September.

Previews begin next Friday, August 19 at 8PM for the Playwrights Horizons New York premiere production of AUBERGINE, a new play by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner Julia Cho (BFE at Playwrights, The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Architecture of Loss).

Playwrights Horizons begins accepting entries today, Monday, August 8, for the LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to their New York premiere production of AUBERGINE, a new play by Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner Julia Cho (BFE at Playwrights, The Language Archive, The Piano Teacher, Durango, The Architecture of Loss).

Playwrights Horizons has announced new details for its upcoming 2016/2017 Season.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced the July, August, and September lineup for the 2016 Comedy Club. Monday nights at 8 pm. All dates are available online at www.baystreet.org or calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500. All comedy performances are suggested for ages 17 and up. Comedy Club is sponsored by Saunders & Associates and The Friars Foundation. Media sponsor is Beach Magazine.

Today Festival Director Fergus Linehan unveiled the 2016 Edinburgh International Festival programme. This year's International Festival runs from Friday 5 to Monday 29 August, welcoming 2,442 artists from 36 nations to perform in Scotland's capital city. 

The Palisades Virtuosi flute, clarinet and piano trio presents In Tribute (Anniversaries & Comemmorations), the second concert of their 2015-2016 season today, April 1 at 7:30 PM at Church of the Atonement, 97 Highwood Avenue, at Engle Street in Tenafly, New Jersey.

MediaRites, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning radio, theatre and documentary programs, will produce The Language Archive, written by award-winning playwright and television writer, Julia Cho.

New York City, NY — Celebrating its 15th season, the Ensemble for the Romantic Century (ERC) returns to BAM Fisher for six performances of Anna Akhmatova: The Heart is Not Made of Stone. Written by Eve Wolf and directed by Donald T. Sanders, this multi-media production examines the troubled relationship between artistic creation and totalitarianism through the perspective of the Russian poet Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966). This tale of passion, love, political repression, and redemption is interwoven with music by Russian composers' Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich.

Celebrating its 15th season, the Ensemble for the Romantic Century (ERC) returns to BAM Fisher for six performances of Anna Akhmatova: The Heart is Not Made of Stone.

The Palisades Virtuosi flute, clarinet and piano trio presents In Tribute (Anniversaries & Comemmorations), the second concert of their 2015-2016 season on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 PM at Church of the Atonement, 97 Highwood Avenue, at Engle Street in Tenafly, New Jersey.

MILWAUKEE 03/16/2016 - The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Edo de Waart announced plans today for the 2016.17 Classics season, de Waart's eighth and final as music director. The MSO will spend de Waart's valedictory season honoring his contributions to the orchestra and the tremendous growth in artistry that the MSO has achieved under his skilled direction. The blockbuster season will include Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro - the third in the series of semi-staged operas, a performance by Itzhak Perlman with Edo de Waart conducting, and symphonies by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Elgar, Bruckner, Mahler, and Brahms. Former MSO associate conductor and current music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta returns to the MSO to conduct Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. The Naughton sisters once again join de Waart to perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra. Edo de Waart will conduct Holst's The Planets, which was on the first program he conducted with the MSO eight years ago. Under the direction of de Waart, Joseph Kalichstein (piano), Jaime Laredo (violin), and Sharon Robinson (cello) will perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Finally, de Waart with culminate eight years with the MSO by leading the orchestra in Mahler's beautiful and inspiring Symphony No. 3, which concluded his final concert of his first season with the orchestra. Next season, the MSO returns to the Basilica of St. Josaphat for three concert weekends. Assistant Conductor Yaniv Dinur leads the MSO and MSO Chorus in John Luther Adams's Become Ocean and several additional works with the chorus. Matthew Halls conducts Mozart's Requiem for the second of the three Basilica concerts. Rounding out the Basilica series will be the perennial favorite Handel's Messiah in December. Additional performances will also be given at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and new this year, the Concordia University of Wisconsin Chapel of Christ Triumphant. The 2016.17 season also features four MSO musicians in solo roles: Concertmaster Frank Almond plays Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1; Principal Clarinet Todd Levy plays Finzi's Concerto for Clarinet; Principal Cello Susan Babini plays Bloch's Schelomo; and Associate Concertmaster Ilana Setapen plays Barber's Violin Concerto. “From the moment I stepped foot on stage with the MSO eight years ago, I have felt at home with this orchestra,” said Music Director Edo de Waart. “I said early on that the outstanding quality of Milwaukee's orchestra was the best kept secret in the Midwest. I don't think it's a secret anymore. It has been my privilege to be a part of the orchestra's growth and its continued development. I will treasure the friendships I've made and the time I have spent with these wonderful musicians and the Milwaukee community. As we embark upon our final season together, I hope that we can once again inspire, uplift, and excite audiences with some of the greatest music of all time.” “We will spend the 2016.17 season celebrating the artistry of Edo de Wart and the contributions he has made to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra,” said President & Executive Director Mark Niehaus. 'Over the last eight years, it has been an honor to work with Maestro de Waart as both a musician and executive director. I couldn't have asked for a better partner and continue to marvel at the impact he has had on our great orchestra. We will continue to enjoy the fruits of his labors for years to come as he has hired more than a third of our musicians on stage today. Under his direction, the MSO attracted top soloists and guest conductors, explored new compositions and performed classical music's greatest repertoire – complete cycles of Brahms, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff and semi-staged performances of the three Mozart/DePonte operas, and he took the MSO on its 13th trip to Carnegie Hall to perform for the Spring for Music Festival in 2012.We look forward to his final year of inspiring, not-to-be-missed performances as our music director and are pleased we will continue to see him regularly as our conductor laureate.” “It is incredibly fortunate that the MSO has had the opportunity to work with a music director of Edo's caliber,” said Board Chairman Andy Nunnemaker. “Edo is known as an 'orchestra builder' in the classical music industry and it's clear after seven seasons with him why that is the case. He is dedicated to excellence and artistry and he inspires the same dedication in those around him. This season, it is with great pride that we celebrate eight years of musical excellence with Edo at the helm of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.” 2016.17 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will spend the 2016.17 season celebrating the tenure of Music Director Edo de Waart, presenting inspiring performances, and engaging with the community. The MSO and Edo de Waart will open the season with the third in the series of semi-staged Mozart operas, The Marriage of Figaro. Robin Guarino will direct. De Waart and the MSO continue the exploration of the works of Strauss with Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks and Four Last Songs. Itzhak Perlman will join Edo de Waart and the MSO in September to perform Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. Frank Almond will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 1; Todd Levy will perform Finzi's Concerto for Clarinet; Susan Babini will perform Bloch's Schelomo; Ilana Setapen will perform Barber's Violin Concerto. Madison natives Christina and Michelle Naughton return to the MSO to perform Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, with Edo de Waart conducting. Former MSO associate conductor (1985-1988) and current music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra JoAnn Falletta returns to the MSO to conduct Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Edo de Waart is joined by the MSO Women's Chorus in Holst's The Planets and Mahler's Symphony No. 3. Joseph Kalichstein (piano), Jaime Laredo (violin), and Sharon Robinson (cello) join Edo de Waart and the MSO to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto in March. Premiers: The season will include seven MSO premiers of works by Tausky, Corigliano, Schoenberg, Escher, Messiaen, Ran, and Jabert. List of Repertoire Sept. 17, 18 + 20, 2016 The Marriage of Figaro Edo de Waart conductor Robin Guarino director Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Sept. 23 + 24, 2016 Emanuel Ax plays Brahms Edo de Waart conductor Emanuel Ax piano Rachel Willis-Sørenson soprano Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks Strauss Four Last Songs Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 Nov. 4 + 5, 2016 Elgar's Enigma David Danzmayr conductor Todd Levy clarinet Tausky Coventry Finzi Concerto for Clarinet Elgar Enigma Variations Nov. 11 + 12, 2016 Romeo & Juliet Cristian Macelaru conductor Frank Almond violin Haydn Symphony No. 96 Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1 Prokofiev Selections from Romeo & Juliet Nov. 19 + 20, 2016 De Waart conducts Beethoven Edo de Waart conductor Christina Naughton piano Michelle Naughton piano Britten Simple Symphony Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments Beethoven Symphony No. 4 Jan. 13 + 14, 2017 Scheherazade JoAnn Falletta conductor Zuill Bailey cello Corigliano Phantasmagoria on The Ghosts of Versailles Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No. 1 Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade Jan. 21 + 22, 2017 Shostakovich Triumphant Carlos Kalmar conductor Elina Vähälä violin Britten Violin Concerto Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 Jan. 27 + 28, 2017 Tchaikovsky's Fourth Asher Fisch conductor Amanda Majeski soprano Schoenberg Chamber Symphony No. 1 Wagner Wesendonck Lieder Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 Feb. 11 + 12, 2017 Poulenc's Gloria Christoph König conductor MSO Chorus Respighi Belfagor Overture Poulenc Gloria Schumann Symphony No. 4 Feb. 24-26, 2017 The Planets Edo de Waart conductor MSO Women's Chorus Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Escher Musique pour l'esprit en deuil Holst The Planets Mar. 3 + 4, 2017 Beethoven Triple Concerto Edo de Waart conductor Joseph Kalichstein piano Jaime Laredo violin Sharon Robinson cello Bach-Schoenberg Chorales Beethoven Triple Concerto Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3, “Scottish” Mar. 10 + 11, 2017 Jeremy Denk plays Mozart Karina Canellakis conductor Jeremy Denk piano Messiaen Hymn du Saint Sacrament Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19 Franck Le chasseur maudit Beethoven Symphony No. 8 Apr. 7-9, 2017 Rachmaninoff + Beethoven Anu Tali conductor Behzod Abduraimov piano Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Beethoven Symphony No. 5 May 12 + 13, 2017 Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Edo de Waart conductor Ronald Brautigam piano Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 Elgar Symphony No. 1 May 19 + 20, 2017 Majestic Bruckner Edo de Waart conductor Susan Babini cello Bloch Schelomo Bruckner Symphony No. 7 May 26-28, 2017 Mahler Symphony No. 3: Edo de Waart's Finale Edo de Waart conductor MSO Women's Chorus Mahler Symphony No. 3 June 16 + 17, 2017 Barber's Violin Concerto Larry Rachleff conductor Ilana Setapen violin Dvorak Carnival Overture Barber Violin Concerto Pierre Jalbert New Work Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra Classical Special Sep. 27, 2016 Itzhak Perlman Edo de Waart conductor Itzhak Perlman violin Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Brahms Symphony No. 3 Basilica Series Oct. 22 + 23, 2016 The Glory of the Basilica Yaniv Dinur conductor MSO Chorus Bång Hav Wagner Prelude to Act 1 of Parsifal Braun Chapter 3from Song of Songs Brahms Nänie John Luther Adams Become Ocean Mar. 31 – April 2, 2017 Mozart's Requiem Matthew Halls conductor MSO Chorus Mozart Requiem Biographies Edo de Waart The 2016.17 season will be Edo de Waart's eighth as the sixth music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The 2016.17 season marks Maestro de Waart's valedictory season as music director; at the end of the season he will become music director laureate for seasons to follow. He is also chief conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic and conductor laureate of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Guest conducting highlights include performances with the San Francisco Symphony, NHK Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Washington's National Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. As an opera conductor, Mr. de Waart has conducted at Nikikai Opera, Geneva Opera, Opera de Bastille, Santa Fe Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera. Semi-staged and concert opera performances include Der Rosenkavalier (The Metropolitan Opera), Bluebeard's Castle (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra), and The Rake's Progress (Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra). Each season, he conducts an opera with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic as part of the Concertgebouw's Zaterdag Matinee series. Edo de Waart's extensive catalogue encompasses releases for Philips, Virgin, EMI, Telarc, and RCA. With the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, he has recorded all the orchestral works of Rachmaninoff, the overtures of Wagner for Octavia/Exton and, most recently, a Wagner series for Challenge Classics. Born in Holland, he studied oboe, piano, and conducting at the Music Lyceum in Amsterdam and upon graduating took up the position of associate principal oboe of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Two years later, at the age of 23, he won the Dimitri Mitropoulos Conducting Competition in New York which resulted in his appointment as assistant conductor to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic. On his return to Holland, he was appointed assistant conductor to Bernard Haitink at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. In 1967, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra appointed him guest conductor and, six years later, chief conductor and artistic director. Since then, Edo de Waart has also been music director of the San Francisco Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra, chief conductor and artistic director of the Sydney Symphony, and chief conductor of De Nederlandse Opera. In December 2004, he was made a Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion, and in 2005, he was appointed an Honorary Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. YANIV DINUR Born in Jerusalem in 1981, Yaniv Dinur has performed with orchestras in Israel, Europe, the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He is a winner of numerous conducting awards, among them the 2nd Prize at the 2009 Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico, and the Yuri Ahronovitch 1st Prize in the 2005 Aviv Conducting Competitions in Israel. He was chosen by the League of American Orchestras to be a featured conductor in the 2011 Bruno Walter Conducting Preview, and he is a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Zubin Mehta Scholarship Endowment. In September of 2015 Dinur was names assistant conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Dinur started his conducting career at the age of 19, performing with the Israel Camerata, making him the youngest conductor ever to conduct an orchestra in Israel. Since then, he also conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, New World Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Tallahassee Symphony, Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Pomeriggi Musicali in Milan, Solisti di Perugia, Torino Philharmonic, Portugal Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Festival Orchestra, State Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM in Mexico, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. GUEST CONDUCTORS David Danzmayr (Nov. 4 + 5) has been described by ´The Herald´ as “extremely good, concise, clear, incisive and expressive” and is regarded as one of the most exciting and talented European conductors of the younger generation. Having served for three years as assistant conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Danzmayr has conducted this ensemble in more than 70 concerts, performing in all the major Scottish concert halls and in the prestigious, Orkney based, St Magnus Festival. Danzmayr makes regular appearances as a guest conductor for other internationally renowned orchestras. Danzmayr is a prize-winner of the prestigious International Malko Conducting Competition and was the only European conductor to reach the final of the prestigious Chicago Symphony Orchestra Sir Georg Solti competition. Cristian Macelaru (Nov. 11 + 12) has established an exciting and highly regarded presence through his thoughtful interpretations, poise and energetic conviction on the podium. Associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Macelaru began his tenure at the Philadelphia Orchestra as assistant conductor in September 2011; in recognition of his artistic contributions to the orchestra, his title was elevated to associate conductor in November 2012. In addition to continuing to assist Yannick Nézet-Séguin and leading several non-subscription performances, Macelaru conducted his own subscription week in the 2013.14 season, after having stepped in on an unexpected subscription debut in April 2013 in place of Jaap van Zweden. Macelaru recently made two overwhelmingly successful appearances with the Chicago Symphony on subscription programs two seasons in a row as a replacement for Pierre Boulez. JoAnn Falletta (Jan. 13 + 14) is internationally celebrated as a vibrant ambassador for music, an inspiring artistic leader, and a champion of American symphonic music. She serves as the music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Brevard Music Center. Recent appearances include return engagements with the Warsaw, Detroit, Phoenix, Krakow, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestras and debuts with the Gothenburg Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall, and a 13-city US tour with the Irish Chamber Orchestra and soloist James Galway. Falletta has held the positions of artistic advisor to the Honolulu Symphony, music director of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, associate conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, and music director of the Denver Chamber Orchestra, the Queens Philharmonic and the Women's Philharmonic. Carlos Kalmar (Jan. 21 + 22) is in his thirteenth season as music director of the Oregon Symphony. He is also chief conductor and artistic director of the Spanish Radio/Television Orchestra and Choir in Madrid, and artistic director and principal conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. A regular guest conductor with major orchestras in America, Europe and Asia, Kalmar recently made his subscription series debuts with three of America's most prestigious orchestras: those of Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. Past engagements have seen him on the podium with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Minnesota Orchestra and the New World Symphony, as well as the orchestras of Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, Milwaukee, Nashville, Seattle and St. Louis. Asher Fisch (Jan. 27 + 28) A seasoned conductor in both the operatic and symphonic worlds, Asher Fisch is especially celebrated for his interpretative command of core German and Italian repertoire of the Romantic and post-Romantic era, in particular Wagner, Brahms, Strauss, and Verdi. Fisch also conducts a wide variety of other repertoire from Gluck to contemporary works, and serves as an advocate of living composers such as Avner Dorman and others. In 2014, Fisch became the principal conductor and artistic advisor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO). His former posts include principal guest conductor of the Seattle Opera (2007-2013), where he concluded his tenure conducting the opera's quadrennial Wagner Ring Cycle in summer 2013, music director of the New Israeli Opera (1998-2008), and the Wiener Volksoper (1995-2000). Christoph König (Feb. 11 + 12) is a conductor of deep intelligence and musicality. His conducting is marked by an energetic and serious approach to musical collaboration and a commitment to thoughtful and stimulating programming. He currently holds the position of principal conductor and music director of the Solistes Européens Luxembourg. Since his debut in the US in 2010 he has conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and Colorado Symphony Orchestras. Karina Canellakis (Mar. 10 + 11) is currently entering her second season as Assistant Conductor of the Dallas Symphony. Canellakis has rapidly gained international recognition as one of the most dynamic and exciting young American conductors. She recently made her European conducting debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at the Styriarte Festival in Graz, Austria, filling in for Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Earlier in the season, she also made headlines filling in last minute for Jaap Van Zweden in two subscription concerts with the Dallas Symphony, conducting Shostakovich's 8th Symphony and Mozart K449 with soloist Emanuel Ax, earning rave reviews. In the 2015.16 season, Ms. Canellakis makes her debuts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and at the renowned Grand Tetons Music Festival in summer 2016. Matthew Halls (Mar. 31 – Apr. 2) is in his second season as artistic director of the Oregon Bach Festival, having succeeded founding director Helmuth Rilling the previous year. Summer 2015 saw the Oregon Bach Festival launch the Berwick Academy for Historically Informed Performance under his leadership, a new national training program for advanced students. Increasingly in demand by North American symphony orchestras, Halls has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, and the Utah Symphony in repertoire from Bach and Handel to Beethoven, Kernis, Mendelssohn, Messiaen, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, and Tippett. Anu Tali (Apr. 7 – 9) assumed the position of music director of the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida in August 2013. Additionally, she continues in her role of the chief conductor at the Nordic Symphony Orchestra, which Anu and sister Kadri Tali founded in 1997. Highlights of the 2014.15 season included her debut with the Finnish National Opera and re-engagements with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Bochumer and Duisburger Symphonikern. Last season featured invitations to the Ruhrtriennale and Ensemble Modern. Larry Rachleff (Jun. 16 + 17) serves as music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and has also been music director of the San Antonio Symphony. “A take-charge maestro who invests everything he conducts with deep musical understanding” (Chicago Tribune), Mr. Rachleff is in constant demand as a guest conductor. Recent and upcoming engagements include the Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, and Toledo Symphony among many others. Summer festival engagements include Tanglewood, Aspen, Interlochen, Chautauqua, Brevard Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy, and the Grand Teton Music Festival. In 1993, he was selected as one of four American conductors to lead the Cleveland Orchestra at Carnegie Hall under the mentorship of Pierre Boulez. GUEST ARTISTS (PIANO) Emanuel Ax (Sept. 23 + 24) was born in Lvov, Poland and moved to Winnipeg, Canada, with his family when he was a young boy. His studies at the Juilliard School were supported by the sponsorship of the Epstein Scholarship Program of the Boys Clubs of America, and he subsequently won the Young Concert Artists Award. Additionally, he attended Columbia University where he majored in French. Ax captured public attention in 1974 when he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists followed four years later by the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. Christina and Michelle Naughton (Nov. 19 + 20) have been hailed by the San Francisco Examiner for their “stellar musicianship, technical mastery, and awe-inspiring artistry”. The Naughtons made their European debut at Herkulesaal in Munich, and their Asian debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. An appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra led the Philadelphia Inquirer to characterize their playing as “paired to perfection,” while the Saarbrücker Zeitung exclaimed “this double star could soon prove to be a supernova.” They have captivated audiences throughout the globe with the unity created by their mystical musical communication, as featured by the Wall Street Journal in their own words “There are times I forget we are two people playing together”. The sisters recently signed an exclusive recording contract with Warner Classics which will release their second album, Visions, in March 2016. Jeremy Denk (Mar. 10 + 11) is one of America's foremost pianists—an artist The New York Times hails as someone “you want to hear no matter what her performs”. Winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America's 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year award, he recently appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, San Fransisco, and London. Behzod Abduraimov (Apr. 7 – 9) captivating performances are rapidly establishing him as one of the forerunners of his generation. In recent seasons Behzod has worked with leading orchestras including Los Angeles Philharmonic with conductor James Gaffigan, Boston Symphony Orchestra with conductor Charles Dutoit, London Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor David Zinman, NHK Symphony Orchestra with conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Jirí Belohlávek. Ronald Brautigam (May 12 + 13), a student of the legendary Rudolf Serkin, performs regularly with leading orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw, London Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Sydney Symphony. He has perfomed alongside a number of distinguished conductors including Riccardo Chailly, Charles Dutoit, Bernard Haitink, Frans Brüggen, Christpher Hogwood, Marek Janowski, Sir Roger Norrington, Marin Alsop, Ivor Bolton, Sir Simon Rattle and Ivan Fisher. GUEST ARTIST (VIOLIN, CELLO, TRIO) Elina Vähälä (Jan. 21 + 22) was born in the US and raised in Finland. She made her orchestra debut with Sinfonia Lahti at the age of 12 and was later chosen by Osmo Vänskä as the orchestra's “young master soloist”. Since then, her career continues to expand the international stage, winning praise from audiences and musicians alike as “a fluent, stylish, and gifted musicians whose brilliant technique is matched by an abundant spirit, sensitivity, and imagination” (Chicago Tribune). Zuill Bailey (Jan. 13 + 14) is a distinguished soloist, recitalist, artistic director, and teacher. His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought after and active cellists today. A consummate concerto soloist, Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras worldwide, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dallas, Louisville, Honolulu, Milwaukee, Nashville, Toronto, Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Israel, Cape Town, and the Bruchner Orchestra in Linz, Austria. He has collaborated with such conductors as Itzhak Perlman, Alan Gilbert, Andrew Litton, James DePriest, Jun Markl, Carlos Kalmar, Andrey Boreyko, Krzysztof Urbanski, Jacques Lacombe, Grant Llewellyn, and Stanislav Skrowaczewski. He also has been featured with musical luminaries Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell, and Janos Starker. Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio (Mar. 3 + 4) After 38 years of success the world over, including many award-winning recordings and newly commissioned works, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio continues to dazzle audiences and critics alike with its performances. Since making their debut at the White House for President Carter's Inauguration in January 1977, pianist Joseph Kalichstein, violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson have set the standard for performances of the piano trio literature. As one of the only long-lived ensembles with all of its original members, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robsinson Trio balances the careers of three internationally-acclaimed soloists while making annual appearances at many of the world's major concert halls, commissioning spectacular new works, and maintaining an active recording agenda. TICKETS & PRICING Ticket prices for the 2016.17 season remain unchanged. For information about subscriptions, please call 414.291.7605 or visit mso.org. Single tickets will go on sale in July 2016. All programs, artists, and venues subject to change. ABOUT THE MSO The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Edo de Waart, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Now in his sixth season with the MSO, Maestro de Waart has led sold-out concerts, elicited critical acclaim, and conducted a celebrated performance at Carnegie Hall on May 11, 2012. The MSO's full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee.

MediaRites, a nonprofit organization that provides innovative, award-winning radio, theatre and documentary programs, today announced that it will produce The Language Archive, written by award-winning playwright and television writer, Julia Cho. MediaRites' Theatre Diaspora produces staged readings focusing on Asian American identity and cultural issues, providing visibility and engaging audiences in insightful talkback discussions on cultural diversity.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, just announced the six productions of its 2016/2017 Season. The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street.

This week, I sat down with Janelle Lutz backstage at The Firehouse Theatre, moments before she took the stage for her second (and final) dress rehearsal for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, which runs February 18th through March 6th. Lutz (pronounced 'loots,' although she doesn't correct those that rhyme her name with klutz) shared her affection for Julie Andrews' portrayal of the role in the 1967 movie, and admitted some intimidation in following in Sutton Foster's Broadway shoes. As we talked about her exciting stage opportunities around DFW, I couldn't help but observe how one of DFW's largest stage personalities is also one of the most sincere, humble performers I've had the chance to speak with. Upon the end of our conversation, when I gave Ms. Lutz the opportunity to add anything I may have overlooked, she thought for a moment and responded: 'I'd just like to say thank you to the Dallas theatre community. This is my family; they've taken huge chances on me.'